Rates of Progress towards Flowering and Podding in Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea) as a Function of Temperature and Photoperiod

Abstract

The influence of temperature and photoperiod on phenological development of three bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) selections from Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mali was investigated in a semi-controlled environment experiment with factorial combinations of three constant temperatures (20n9, 23n4 and 26n2 mC) and four constant photoperiods (10n0, 12n5, 13n5 and 16n0 h d −" ). In all three selections, the onset of flowering was influenced by temperature but not by photoperiod, while the onset of pod-growth (' podding ') of all three selections was influenced by both factors. The influence of temperature and photoperiod was quantified by means of photothermal models, linking development rates to temperature and photoperiod with linear equations. The rate of progress from sowing to flowering of the three selections could be described very well (r# 95 %) as a function of temperature ; the rate of progress from flowering to podding was described reasonably well as a function of both temperature and photoperiod by a combination of one to three response planes (r# for the different selections ranging from 63 to 90 %). Model testing with independent data sets showed good agreement between observed and predicted times to flowering and podding.# 1997 Annals of Botany Company

Genetic diversity and population structure of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.): synopsis of the past two decades of analysis and implications for crop improvement programmes

“…Moreover, a highly controlled environment is needed for such phenotyping in most ecologies (especially in the tropical regions where natural day length variation is limited). However, studies focusing on photothermal response mechanisms in Bambara groundnut have been reported (Linnemann 1991;Linnemann et al 1995;Brink 1997Brink , 1999Brink et al 2000;Jørgensen et al 2009;Kendabie et al 2014). The opportunity to use molecular markers linked to QTLs associated with photo-thermal response could be useful in future germplasm characterization.…”

Genetics and genetic modifications of plant architecture in grain legumes: a review

“…In Vigrca subterranea, Linnemann [106] observed an effect of the photoperiod on the flowering time and Linnemann and Craufurd [ 107] revealed differences between genotypes, as only one among the three genotypes analyzed was responsive to photoperiod. Brink [22] found that the flowering time only depended on the temperature but that the time to podding was affected by the photoperiod. This post-flowering effect of the photoperiod was also observed on soybean [62] and groundnut [52].…”

Preliminary assessment of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterraneaL.) landraces for temperature and water stress tolerance under field conditions in Botswana

“…In most bambara groundnut genotypes investi- ) against days after sowing for bambara groundnut sown on 21 December, 18 January and 18 February, 2007-08 cropping season. Vertical bars indicate SE of means gated, including some of the landraces used in this study, the onset of flowering is photoperiod-insensitive but the onset of podding is retarded by long photoperiods (Linnemann 1994;Brink 1997;Sesay et al, 2008). In a preliminary field experiment in Botswana, Harris and Azam-Ali (1993) reported that pod development in bambara groundnut was fastest at daylengths shorter than about 12 h and slowed as daylength increased.…”

“…However, the consistent declining trends in crop performance with delay in sowing in this study may be associated not only with the seasonal decline in temperatures, but also with seasonal changes in photoperiod. Studies in a controlled environment (Linnemann & Craufurd, 1994;Brink, 1997) and field environment (Harris & Azam-Ali, 1993;Sesay et al, 2008) have strongly indicated the dominant role of photoperiod in the control of reproductive development in bambara groundnut. In most bambara groundnut genotypes investi- ) against days after sowing for bambara groundnut sown on 21 December, 18 January and 18 February, 2007-08 cropping season.…”